Frances Earl VanBuskirk

Wasilla resident Frances Earl VanBuskirk, 79, died April 20 at home of natural causes.

Mr. VanBuskirk was born July 2, 1929, in Ponca, Neb. He was one of nine children. He was an Army veteran enlisting when he was 17.

He had lived in Belfair, Wash., for 30 years. While there he worked in Shop 56 of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, retiring in 1977. He later worked occasionally with two of his brothers, Bruce and Lyle of Wolverine Supply Inc. of Wasilla. He moved to Alaska permanently in 1995.

His passion was his family and his friends.

His family wrote. “He was an active, involved father and grandfather, who loved going to different school and sporting events of first his own children and then his grandchildren. Rain or shine, win or lose, spelling bees, concerts, basketball or hockey matches he was always there.”

Mr. VanBuskirk was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years Lorrine, his brothers, Lyle, Bruce and Wendall; sisters Mary, Emily and Elsie.

Surviving are two sisters, Violet Morrison and Pearl McGill; children and their spouses, Kenneth and Peggy VanBuskirk of Belfair, Wash.; Michael and Annelies VanBuskirk of Sydney, Australia; Barbara and Gary Humphreys and Bill and Toni VanBuskirk of Wasilla; grandchildren, Stephanie, Earl, Lucas, Wiley, Megan, Haley and Kale; and great grandchildren; Peyton, Liam, Palmer and Izabella.

A graveside service was held Saturday at the Wasilla Aurora cemetery.

The family asks that memorials be made to Wasilla Area Senior Center. Arrangements are with Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Wasilla.